tidewaterreview.com

Phelps' pool plans uncertain

Michael Phelps
has backed away from a previous
comment he made about
purchasing a pool in Baltimore,
saying at a news conference
yesterday that he's not sure of
his plans.

Phelps, still in China after winning
eight gold medals at the
Olympics, said, "We're definitely
going to start training back in
Baltimore.

"But I'm not really sure exactly.
I never know what I'm really
talking about, I just say
things."

A day earlier, Phelps told NBC's
Nightly News that he and his
coach, Bob Bowman, had
bought a pool in Baltimore and
were looking to change the sport
of swimming. Phelps and his
representatives are in preliminary
talks with management at
the North Baltimore Aquatic
Club to buy the Meadowbrook
facility.

In April, Bowman was named
the NBAC's chief executive officer,
and he is expected to start
the position next month.

At yesterday's news conference,
Bowman, sitting next to
Phelps, said he would not confirm
or deny any looming deal,
adding, "There are plans to expand
our facilities. We have a lot
of options for that, quite honestly.
But nothing has been done
with them."

One possibility has Phelps and
his representatives also purchasing
a neighboring ice-skating
rink and post office to turn
the area into an Olympic training
center.

Officials from Northwest Skating
Rink have not returned
phone calls seeking comment.
But some of the rink's instructors
have been informed by
management of the rink's closure,
which is expected at the
end of this month.

Fellow Olympic swimmer
Katie Hoff, also at the news conference
in China, said she had
heard speculation about the
NBAC expansion.

"That would be nice," she said.
"I heard something about the
ice rink being turned into [a
pool], but I don't know. I really
don't know anything. I've been
kind of in my own little world for
the past month or two."